GEN X

Existing Home Sales Haven't Fallen, Despite Gloomy Punditry

And yet when you ask any foreigner, "If you could move to any country in the world, where would you go?" Just about all reply without a second's hesitation "The U.S."

So if you ask me, we still have got be doing something right, LK.

Time to Make the Fed Accountable for Its Actions

Another link to a petition that is on Mr. Paul's Campaign For Liberty Website. Check out all the other content on the site as well!

www.campaignforliberty...

Unraveling the Housing Glut

Thanks for your response, I can see your logic. Strange thing happening around where I am living is that rental communities are also having hard times finding tenants. There are really great deals for rentals around Austin, TX right now. I wish we had waited a month longer before we signed our lease, we could have saved $200 a month. Any ideas why this might be happening too? Is it possible that so many people are co-habitating (sorry to make up a word). Are rentals also suffering in other markets that you know of?

Unraveling the Housing Glut

I agree with much of the ideas being discussed in the article and forum. However, when talking about demographics, I wonder if anyone has given much thought to the overall wealth of this "Echo Generation." When you look at the income of your average working 20-30 something compared to their debt (debt to income ratio), the younger working generations don't have the capacity to afford the inflated prices of homes in the last 8 years. Some likely contributors include:

- Tuition costs leading to higher student loan repayments for recent college graduates.
- Inflation of other necessities such as food, energy, transportation, etc.
- Stagnated starting salaries for recent graduates since the late 1990's.

My point is simply this (and I'm sorry I am not full of data and figures, but I am still able to observe the world around me), the Echo Generation, GEN X, GEN Y, whichever you prefer - is having one hell of a time being able to save enough money to find it affordable to get into the housing market, even factoring in reduced prices, foreclosures, interest rates. Until future generations begin reducing their debt/income ratios, the housing market will find it harder and harder to reach the first time home buyer demographic (especially while in their 20's) regardless of stimulus plans and tax breaks.



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NY Fed Model Suggests Economic Recovery Has Started and Recession Will End This Year

Are you serious?

Bail Out for Dummies - Part I

ConceptWizard:

You asked:

Now what do we do about it. We have to get ("Mad, Mad dog Mad, for there are those that win and those that lose, that just the way it is and always will be" Clint Eastwood.) They have the power and the money. We don't have the committment not to lose, so we will.

I think I have a more realistic solution and it starts here:
www.campaignforliberty...

Constitutional Issues in Nationalization and the Economic Rescue Plan

Where's McCarthy when you need him?

Generational Demographics: Can Young Adults Save the Markets?

I can assure you there is not enough money in the sea of young adults' savings to float the oversized yachts of their elders. Sorry to burst your bubbles, but have you looked at average debt to income ratios of 20 and 30 somethings?? Scary stuff.

Taxpayers: Your Dollars Are Supporting Goldman Sachs Employees

Glad I could contribute. I'll get back to you... my Ramen noodles are ready!!

How to Not Pay the AIG Bonuses

Obviously there is a new 6 letter word that has execs at AIG cringing more than the worst 4 letter words you can think of - Ethics

The Great Awakening: Boomers, Your Crisis Has Arrived (Part 3 of 3)

I hate to agree, but I agree with this article. Actually, I feel like I wrote it myself... as pessimistic as it is, I think it is the first article I have read in a while where I don't feel like the author can't see the forest because of the trees.

Let's face it, the time for sugarcoating the predicament we're in with bailouts, TARPS, stimulus plans, etc. are all digging us a deeper hole than we're already in. If we think times are tough now, just wait another 3-5 yrs. Inflation will be a bitch and whatever people are saving now in terms of dollars will get them nothing in 5 yrs. Look at the federal reserve - once that capital hits circulation, the dollar is going to be used for nothing more than kindling for heating our homes.

I understand that this article is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way. But THINK about it. Turn off your CNN for a minute and really think about the big picture - expand your thoughts and look at what the hell is going on. Read Ron Paul's "Revolution." Read Andrew Napolitano's "Nation of Sheep." Start to listen to the few thinkers left in America, and for once, maybe consider that CNN and the New York Times aren't always the basis of realism.

We all need to start looking beyond what has been fed to us for the past 50 yrs and start thinking pragmatically. For the sake of the child I am about to bring into this world, and the author's sons, that is the favor, I believe, Mr. Quinn are asking of everyone.

Mapping Obama's Now-Failed Transport Policy

Has anyone given any thought to the rise in telecommuting careers and surges in internet retail over the last few years? Its just the beginning, but as more technological advancements are made with communications and logistics, the less people are going to be driving in the future anyway - whether it be commuting to work or out to buy stuff at store during the weekends.

Sure we all want to hit the road and take road trips and experience some of that American freedom that comes from the Goodyears meeting the pavement, but at what cost? Just trying to offer a different perspective on the topic.

Bail Out the Future, Not the Past

Like the article and refreshing perspective, Mr. Jarvis. Sometimes intuition and common sense beat statistics and formulas - which everyone uses to argue their cases, and still end up "circling their wagons" as you say.

Without transparency accountability cannot truly exist by my opinion. And without accountability, how can there be any true measure of performance? Without performance, can you really be innovative/competitive in the market place?

We need to change the status quo of these expired business models and bring back innovation, which transparency and accountability will likely promote. Sorry I'm not full of statistics and figures to defend this simple idea, but sometimes taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture reveals a lot more than minutia, which I believe your case study has shown.

How Wall Street Keeps Dooming Itself

Gee, I wish I could totally screw up at work and get rewarded with a 400% bonus increase. I actually help bring revenue into my company, and I'll be lucky if I still have a job on Monday!!

Funny how sports franchises fire their coaches and managers after only a year if their teams don't make the playoffs. On Wall St. these losers would be given penthouse suites, private jet rides across the street to Starbucks, golden parachutes, foreign sports cars, etc.

And we tolerate this type of behavior, why?? Oh that's right, people with all the decision making power all have their hands in each other's pockets, I forgot. Please, don't let any hardworking people living paycheck to paycheck stop you from your silver spoon feeding.

Let's Just Say It: Print More Money

Just thought this analysis would also prove useful. Just reading the first few pages is argument enough against any case made in this article. Taylor even drew it out in crayon in some nice graphs for everyone who might believe otherwise.

www.stanford.edu/~johntayl/FCPR.pdf

I also think the excerpt from Rothbard's book that Jerusel provided is more than substantial to refute the claims that increasing cash liquidity and using inflation as a fuel for the economy could ever be considered rational.